Educators give update on the Long Beach College Promise

LONG BEACH - Educational leaders and community members gathered in the Cabrillo High School auditorium on Wednesday to mark the fourth anniversary of the Long Beach College Promise.

The College Promise, founded in 2008, is a partnership among the Long Beach Unified School District, Long Beach City College and Cal State Long Beach designed to ease the path to college for local students.

As part of the promise, LBUSD graduates are offered a tuition-free fall semester at LBCC and guaranteed admission to Cal State Long Beach if they meet the university's minimum requirements.

However, the celebration took place under the shadow of looming state cuts that have the potential to affect all levels of education and reduce the number of students admitted to CSULB.

In a special presentation, California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott joined LBUSD Superintendent Chris Steinhauser, LBCC President Eloy Oakley and Cal State Long Beach President F. King Alexander for a progress update.

Scott commended the partnership for its effort to improve college success on a local level.

"It not only sounds great on paper, but it's something that is improving college-going rates for LBUSD graduates," Scott said.

Among the highlights:

729 LBUSD students entered Cal State Long Beach as freshman in 2011 - more students than ever before and a 40 percent increase from 2008.

74 percent of LBUSD graduates are pursuing post-secondary education within one year of graduation and half of those students are enrolled at either LBCC or Cal State Long Beach.

The College Promise waved first-semester enrollment fees for more than 1,600 students at LBCC last fall.

LBUSD freshmen now comprise more than 18 percent of Cal State Long Beach's entering freshman class. The top four feeder high schools in 2010 were Poly, Wilson, Millikan and Lakewood.

Despite the achievements, officials warned that the College Promise could see significant setbacks under the state cuts in funding to public education.

LBUSD, LBCC and Cal State Long Beach have all seen major reductions in state funding. All three institutions are considering severe cuts to programs, layoffs and other changes.

In February, the LBUSD announced the layoffs of more than 300 employees as part of an effort to shave $20 million from its budget. LBCC is planning to slash at least $5 million from its budget this year to help offset a 7.4 percent reduction in funding.

The Cal State University system plans to close admission for the spring 2013 semester and could cut enrollment by as much as 25,000 students for the 2013-2014 school year if a November tax initiative designed to help fund education fails.

Alexander said Cal State Long Beach is planning to enroll about 7,000 new students for fall 2013 but could turn away as many as 1,000 if the November tax initiative fails.

While times are tough, Alexander has said the university is still committed to the College Promise and will continue to give local students priority registration.

In the presentation at Cabrillo, Alexander urged the community to approve the November tax initiative to help restore funding for public education.

"The vote in November is a vote for the future of our students and a vote for the future of the Long Beach College Promise," he said.

As part of the event, 27 eighth-graders from local middle schools were awarded college scholarships ranging from $50 to $250. The scholarships, awarded to students who have shown the most academic growth, will be available when they graduate from high school.

Christian Beltran, a 14-year-old from Henry K-8 School, was proud to be recognized for his perfect straight-A record this year.

The teen said he plans to go to college and become an engineer or architect.

"My parents always tell me to study hard so I can have a better future," he said. "I'm just going to keep doing the best I can."